Spencer's Oscar triumph came for her role as headstrong black maid, Minnie, whose willful ways continually land her in trouble with white employers in 1960s Mississippi.

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Spencer wept throughout her breathless speech, in which she apologized, between laughing and crying, for running a bit long on her time limit.

"Thank you, academy, for putting me with the hottest guy in the room," Spencer said, referring to last year's supporting-actor winner Christian Bale, who presented her Oscar.

Her brash character holds a personal connection: "The Help" author Kathryn Stockett based some of the woman's traits on Spencer, whom she met through childhood pal Tate Taylor, the director of the film.

Before taking the stage, Spencer got kisses from "The Help" co-stars Viola Davis, a best-actress nominee, and Jessica Chastain, a fellow supporting nominee.

"I share this with everybody," Spencer said.

Davis lost out on the best actress Oscar, which went to Meryl Streep for her role as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

"The Help," which was set in Jackson and filmed in Mississippi, was nominated for best picture, but lost to "The Artist."

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Fans of "The Help" were hoping the movie would win big during the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

The red carpet was rolled out at Brent's Drugs on Sunday. 16 WAPT's Stephanie Maxwell and Darren Dedo were live at Brent's throughout the evening with fans of "The Help."

The historic soda fountain and restaurant was featured in scenes of the "The Help."

"We had Skeeter and Hilly and Elizabeth sitting, talking about when the boyfriend was coming back into town," said Brent's Drugs manager Theresa Layman.

Five-year-old twins Emma and Ella Henry, of Madison, who played Mae Mobley in "The Help," watched the film for the first time on Sunday.

The girls were 3 years old when "The Help" was filmed. Ella Henry delivered the famous line from the movie that character Aibleen says to Mae Mobley, "You is smart. You is kind. You is important."

"(Producer Steven) Spielberg sent some word back that he really enjoyed the last scene that they ended up with -- the girls beating on the window and bemoaning Aibleen as she left," said the twins' father, Mark Henry.

Brent's opened its doors to the public Sunday night and served up a special "The Help"-themed menu and a front row seat to watch the Oscars on a big screen.

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